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Living in
West Lafayette.
About
Life in West Lafayette
This is a college town through and through, and that shapes everything about living here. Purdue dominates the economy and the culture—you'll see students everywhere, from the leafy campus to the Wabash Landing district with its shops, restaurants, and riverside feel. The downside is that much of the commercial activity clusters across the river in Lafayette, and the student-heavy population means West Lafayette can feel transient.
West Lafayette at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
21.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
37.3%
Foreign-Born
20.5%
Broadband Internet
89.8%
of households
Population Growth
+2.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.5% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in West Lafayette: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Lafayette, the largest foreign-born group is from India (28.6%), and 5.9% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
8.3%
of residents
65 and Older
7.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
14.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.0%
of households
Married Couples
26.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.03
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 15% above IN average
Rent, home values, and income in West Lafayette
In West Lafayette, rent runs 15% above the IN average, and home values are 60% above the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
63.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
44.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,877
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
29.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1992
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.5%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $363,027 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.6 pts below IN average
Unemployment in West Lafayette
Unemployment in West Lafayette is 0.6 percentage points lower than the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What West Lafayette Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.1 min avg
How West Lafayette residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Lafayette, most residents drive alone to work (48%), and 89% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 mi
Purdue University Airport (LAF)
Regional airport · few flights11k passengers boarded in 2025
- 59 mi
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 119 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 70% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Lafayette runs 70% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
98.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
985.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
West Lafayette Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
81.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Tippecanoe County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Tippecanoe County, which includes West Lafayette, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $101,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Drought | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $732,000 |
| 2022 | 6 | Winter Storm | $100,000 |
| 2021 | 5 | Heavy Snow | $117,500 |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $233,300 |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $39,150 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Tippecanoe County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Tippecanoe County, which includes West Lafayette, is typically good — 244 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
244
per year
Moderate Days
103
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Tippecanoe County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
West Lafayette has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
42.9"
Annual Snowfall
18.9"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
116
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 18°F | 2.19" |
| Feb | 38°F | 21°F | 1.78" |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 2.73" |
| Apr | 62°F | 40°F | 3.84" |
| May | 73°F | 51°F | 4.04" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 4.56" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.08" |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 3.12" |
| Sep | 77°F | 54°F | 2.59" |
| Oct | 65°F | 43°F | 2.91" |
| Nov | 50°F | 33°F | 2.87" |
| Dec | 38°F | 24°F | 2.29" |
Healthcare1 hospital
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Lafayette
West Lafayette has 1 hospital.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
2.5%
of residents
Wabash Valley Alliance, Inc. / River Bend Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Sycamore Springs
Psychiatric · 5.6 mi away · Lafayette
Franciscan Health Lafayette
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.7 mi away · Lafayette
Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Lafayette
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Lafayette
West Lafayette's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 73.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
3
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
73.3%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in West Lafayette
Public · 4-year · 44,503 students · in-state tuition $9,992 · 79% graduate · median earnings $80,082 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 83 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Lafayette
West Lafayette has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (83 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
83 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
94 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Lafayette
West Lafayette Public Library
208 West Columbia Street, West Lafayette
Cities Near West Lafayette
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Lafayette?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Lafayette FAQ
Is West Lafayette, Indiana affordable?⌄
West Lafayette's median rent is $1,225/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $34,891/year. Median home value is $350,000.
Is West Lafayette, Indiana safe?⌄
West Lafayette's violent crime rate was 98 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 986 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Lafayette, Indiana?⌄
West Lafayette has an unemployment rate of 3.1%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Lafayette, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in West Lafayette is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,225/month and median household income is $34,891/year. The median home value is $350,000. About 63% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Lafayette, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in West Lafayette is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from